Use of pyroglutamic acid esters as gas hydrate inhibitors with improved biodegradability

ABSTRACT

A method for preventing the formation of gas hydrates in an aqueous phase by adding esters of pyroglutamic acid in the quantities of from 0.01 to 2% by weight. The esters of pyroglutamic acid produced by esterifying at least one alcohols, comprising from 1 to 100 hydroxyl groups with pyroglutamic acid and/or glutamic acid, wherein the alcohol has no more than one ester group or no more than one carboxylic acid group.

The present invention relates to the use of pyroglutamic esters as gas hydrate inhibitors and to a process for inhibiting nucleation, growth and/or agglomeration of gas hydrates by adding an effective amount of an inhibitor which contains pyroglutamic esters to a polyphasic mixture which consists of water, gas and optionally condensate and has a tendency to form gas hydrates, or to a drilling fluid having a tendency to form gas hydrates.

Gas hydrates are crystalline inclusion compounds of gas molecules in water which form under certain temperature and pressure conditions (low temperature and high pressure). The water molecules form cage structures around the appropriate gas molecules. The lattice structure formed from the water molecules is thermodynamically unstable and is only stabilized by the incorporation of guest molecules. Depending on pressure and gas composition, these icelike compounds can exist even beyond the freezing point of water (up to above 25° C.).

In the mineral oil and natural gas industry, great significance attaches in particular to the gas hydrates which form from water and the natural gas constituents methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Especially in modern natural gas extraction, the existence of these gas hydrates constitutes a great problem, especially when wet gas or multiphasic mixtures of water, gas and alkane mixtures are subjected to low temperatures under high pressure. As a consequence of their insolubility and crystalline structure, the formation of gas hydrates leads here to the blockage of a wide variety of extraction equipment such as pipelines, valves or production equipment in which wet gas or multiphasic mixtures are transported over relatively long distances at relatively low temperatures, as occurs especially in colder regions of the earth or on the seabed. Moreover, gas hydrate formation can also lead to problems in the course of the drilling operation to develop new gas or crude oil deposits at the appropriate pressure and temperature conditions by the formation of gas hydrates in the drilling fluids.

In order to prevent such problems, gas hydrate formation in gas pipelines, in the course of transport of multiphasic mixtures or in drilling fluids, can be suppressed by using relatively large amounts (more than 10% by weight, based on the weight of the aqueous phase) of lower alcohols such as methanol, glycol or diethylene glycol. The addition of these additives has the effect that the thermodynamic limit of gas hydrate formation is shifted to lower temperatures and higher pressures (thermodynamic inhibition). However, the addition of these thermodynamic inhibitors causes serious safety problems (flashpoint and toxicity of the alcohols), logistical problems (large storage tanks, recycling of these solvents) and accordingly high costs, especially in offshore extraction.

Attempts are therefore now being made to replace thermodynamic inhibitors by adding additives in amounts of <2% in temperature and pressure ranges in which gas hydrates can form. These additives either delay gas hydrate formation (kinetic inhibitors) or keep the gas hydrate agglomerates small and therefore pumpable, so that they can be transported through the pipeline (agglomerate inhibitors or anti-agglomerants). The inhibitors used either prevent nucleation and/or the growth of the gas hydrate particles, or modify the hydrate growth in such a way that relatively small hydrate particles result.

The gas hydrate inhibitors which have been described in the patent literature, in addition to the known thermodynamic inhibitors, are a multitude of monomeric and also polymeric substance classes which are kinetic inhibitors or antiagglomerants. Of particular significance in this context are polymers having a carbon backbone which contain both cyclic (pyrrolidone or caprolactam radicals) and acyclic amide structures in the side groups.

For instance, WO-94/12761 discloses a process for kinetically inhibiting gas hydrate formation by the use of polyvinyllactams having a molecular weight of M_(W)>40 000 D, and WO-93/25798 discloses such a process using polymers and/or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone having a molecular weight of M_(W)>5000 to 40 000 D.

EP-A-0 896 123 discloses gas hydrate inhibitors which may comprise copolymers of alkoxylated methacrylic acid without alkyl end capping and cyclic N-vinyl compounds.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,878 describes a process for retarding the formation or reducing the tendency to form gas hydrates. To this end, polyols which are esterified with fatty acids or alkenylsuccinic anhydrides are used. The compounds prepared do not have any amino acid functions which can interact with clathrates (cage molecules).

The additives described have only limited efficacy as kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors and/or antiagglomerants, have to be used with coadditives, or are unobtainable in a sufficient amount or obtainable only at high cost.

In order to be able to use gas hydrate inhibitors even in the case of greater cooling than currently possible, i.e. further within the hydrate region, a further enhancement of action is required in comparison to the prior art hydrate inhibitors. In addition, improved products are desired with regard to their biodegradability.

It was thus an object of the present invention to find improved additives which both slow the formation of gas hydrates (kinetic inhibitors) and keep gas hydrate agglomerates small and pumpable (antiagglomerants), in order thus to ensure a broad spectrum of application with high potential action. Furthermore, they should be capable of replacing the currently used thermodynamic inhibitors (methanol and glycols), which cause considerable safety problems and logistical problems.

Since currently used inhibitors such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinylcaprolactam have only a moderate biodegradability, the inventive compounds should additionally have an improved biodegradability.

As has now been found, surprisingly, both water-soluble and oil-soluble pyroglutamic esters are suitable as gas hydrate inhibitors. According to the structure, these esters can delay both the nucleation and the growth of gas hydrates (kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors) and suppress the agglomeration of gas hydrates (antiagglomerants). In addition, the inventive compounds have a significantly improved biodegradability.

The invention therefore provides for the use of pyroglutamic esters, preparable by esterifying at least one alcohol having from 1 to 100 hydroxyl groups with pyroglutamic acid and/or glutamic acid, with the proviso that the alcohol comprises at most one ester group or at most one carboxylic acid group, in amounts of from 0.01 to 2% by weight for preventing the formation of gas hydrates in aqueous phases which are in contact with a gaseous, liquid or solid organic phase.

The invention further provides a process for inhibiting the formation of gas hydrates by adding pyroglutamic esters, preparable by esterifying at least one alcohol having from 1 to 100 hydroxyl groups with pyroglutamic acid and/or glutamic acid, with the proviso that the alcohol comprises at most one ester group or at most one carboxylic acid group, in amounts of from 0.01 to 2% by weight to an aqueous phase which is in contact with a gaseous, liquid or solid organic phase and in which gas hydrate formation is to be prevented.

The alcohol preferably corresponds to the formula (1)

in which

R is an organic radical with any substitution which comprises at most one ester group or at most one carboxylic acid group. What is meant by this is that R comprises either one ester group or one carboxylic acid group or neither an ester group nor a carboxylic acid group. Apart from this, R may comprise any further substituents, for example amino or amido substituents. R is more preferably an alkyl or polyalkylene oxide radical having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms. n is preferably from 1 to 100, in particular 2 to 80, especially 3 to 10

Particularly preferred alcohols of the formula (1) are methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, isopentanol, 2-ethylhexanol, heptanol, octanol, decanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, diglycerol, triglycerol, tetraglycerol, polyglycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, sorbitol, sorbitan, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and tripropylene glycol.

Pyroglutamic acid corresponds to the formula (2), glutamic acid to the formula (3):

In the esters formed from alcohol and the acids of the formulae 2 and/or 3, preferably at least 30%, more preferably at least 50%, of all the OH functions present in the alcohol have been esterified.

The inventive pyroglutamic esters are preparable by esterifying enantiomerically pure or racemic pyroglutamic acid or glutamic acid, preferably L-glutamic acid, with at least one alcohol. The inventive esters are prepared by uncatalyzed or acid-catalyzed condensation of the pyroglutamic acid or glutamic acid with the alcohol. The reaction temperature is generally between 100 and 300° C., preferably from 170 to 250° C.

The molar ratio employed in the esterification of OH groups in the alcohol to the pyroglutamic acid or glutamic acid is preferably between 1:0.3 and 1:1, especially between 1:0.5 and 1:1.

The reaction can be carried out at atmospheric pressure or reduced pressure. The catalyzing acids include, for example, HCl, H₂SO₄, sulfonic acids, H₃PO₄ or acidic ion exchangers, which are used in amounts of from 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the weight of the reaction mixture. The esterification takes generally from 3 to 30 hours.

To prepare the inventive pyroglutamic esters, as well as pyroglutamic acid, it is also possible to use glutamic acid which is converted directly to the pyroglutamic ester. Accordingly, 2 mol of water of reaction are then formed per esterified OH group of the alcohol. In this case, the by-products formed may also be glutamic esters which, however, do not disrupt the inventive use of the pyroglutamic esters as gas hydrate inhibitors.

The inventive pyroglutamic esters can be used alone or in combination with other known gas hydrate inhibitors. In general, a sufficient amount of the inventive pyroglutamic ester will be added to the system prone to form hydrates that sufficient inhibition is obtained under the given pressure and temperature conditions. In general, the inventive pyroglutamic esters are used preferably in amounts between 0.02 and 1% by weight (based on the weight of the aqueous phase). When the inventive pyroglutamic esters are used in a mixture with other gas hydrate inhibitors, the concentration of the mixture is from 0.01 to 2% by weight or from 0.02 to 1% by weight in the aqueous phase.

For use as gas hydrate inhibitors, the pyroglutamic esters are preferably dissolved in water-miscible alcoholic solvents, for example methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, and oxyethylated monoalcohols such as butylglycol, isobutylglycol, butyldiglycol.

EXAMPLES Preparation of the Pyroglutamic Esters Example 1 Preparation of Isobutyl Pyroglutamate

In a 500 ml four-neck flask with stirrer, thermometer, nitrogen purge and reflux condenser, 129 g of pyroglutamic acid, 148 g of isobutanol and 1.5 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid were mixed and heated under reflux at 140° C. for 8 h. After cooling and replacing the reflux condenser with a distillation system, within 6 h at 140° C., approx. 110 ml of isobutanol/water mixture were distilled off. This affords approx. 187 g of isobutyl pyroglutamate with a hydrolysis number of 305 mg KOH/g.

Example 2 Preparation of 2-ethylhexyl pyroglutamate

In a 500 ml four-neck flask with stirrer, thermometer, nitrogen purge and reflux condenser, 129 g of pyroglutamic acid, 195 g of 2-ethylhexanol and 2.0 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid were mixed and heated under reflux at 200° C. for 4 h. After cooling and replacing the reflux condenser with a distillation system, within 6 h at 200° C., approx. 96 ml of 2-ethylhexanol/water mixture were distilled off. This affords approx. 243 g of 2-ethylhexyl pyroglutamate with a hydrolysis number of 233 mg KOH/g.

Example 3 Preparation of glyceryl tri(pyroglutamate)

In a 250 ml four-neck flask with stirrer, thermometer, nitrogen purge and distillation system, 129 g of pyroglutamic acid, 31 g of glycerol and 1.0 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid were mixed and heated to 200° C. Within 12 h at 200° C., approx. 18 ml of water were distilled off. This afforded approx. 143 g of glyceryl tri(pyroglutamate) with a hydrolysis number of 397 mg KOH/g.

Example 4 Preparation of pentaerythrityl di(pyroglutamate)

In a 250 ml four-neck flask with stirrer, thermometer, nitrogen purge and distillation system, 129 g of pyroglutamic acid, 68 g of pentaerythritol and 1.0 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid were mixed and heated to 200° C. Within 8 h at 200° C., approx. 18 ml of water were distilled off. This afforded approx. 180 g of pentaerythrityl di(pyroglutamate) with a hydrolysis number of 315 mg KOH/g.

Example 5 Preparation of dipentaerythrityl tetra(pyroglutamate)

In a 250 ml four-neck flask with stirrer, thermometer, nitrogen purge and distillation system, 129 g of pyroglutamic acid, 64 g of dipentaerythritol and 1.0 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid were mixed and heated to 200° C. Within 10 h at 200° C., approx. 18 ml of water were distilled off. This afforded approx. 176 g of dipentaerythrityl tetra(pyroglutamate) with a hydrolysis number of 396 mg KOH/g.

Example 6 Preparation of polyglycerol (n=20) poly(pyroglutamate)

In a 500 ml four-neck flask with stirrer, thermometer, nitrogen purge and distillation system, 129 g of pyroglutamic acid, 129 g of polyglycerol (degree of condensation n=20) and 1.0 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid were mixed and heated to 200° C. Within 16 h at 200° C., approx. 18 ml of water were distilled off. This afforded approx. 240 g of polyglycerol (n=20) poly(pyroglutamate) with a hydrolysis number of 235 mg KOH/g.

Example 7 Preparation of polyglycerol (n=40) poly(pyroglutamate)

In a 500 ml four-neck flask with stirrer, thermometer, nitrogen purge and distillation system, 129 g of pyroglutamic acid, 86 g of polyglycerol (degree of condensation n=40) and 1.0 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid were mixed and heated to 200° C. Within 20 h at 200° C., approx. 18 ml of water were distilled off. This afforded approx. 197 g of polyglycerol (n=40) poly(pyroglutamate) with a hydrolysis number of 283 mg KOH/g.

Efficacy of the Polymers as Gas Hydrate Inhibitors

To investigate the inhibiting action of the polyesters, a stirred steel autoclave with temperature control, pressure and torque sensor with capacity 450 ml was used. For investigations of kinetic inhibition, the autoclave was filled with distilled water and gas in a volume ratio of 20:80; for investigations of agglomerate inhibition, condensate was additionally added. Finally, 50 bar of natural gas were injected.

Proceeding from a starting temperature of 20° C., the autoclave was cooled to 4° C. within 3 h, then stirred at 4° C. for 18 h and heated back to 20° C. within 2 h. At first, a pressure decrease corresponding to the thermal compression of the gas is observed. When the formation of gas hydrate nuclei occurs during the cooling time, the pressure measured falls, and a rise in the torque measured and a slight increase in the temperature are observed. Without inhibitors, further growth and increasing agglomeration of the hydrate nuclei lead rapidly to a further rise in the torque. When the mixture is heated, the gas hydrates decompose, so that the starting state of the experimental series is attained.

The measure used for the inhibiting action of the polymer is the time from the attainment of the minimum temperature of 4° C. until the first gas absorption (T_(ind)) or the time until the torque rises (T_(agg)). Long induction times or agglomeration times indicate an effect as a kinetic inhibitor. The torque measured in the autoclave serves, in contrast, as a parameter for the agglomeration of the hydrate crystals. In the case of a good antiagglomerant, the torque which builds up after gas hydrates have formed is significantly reduced compared to the blank value. In the ideal case, snowlike, fine hydrate crystals form in the condensate phase, do not agglomerate and thus do not lead to blockage of the installations serving for gas transport and for gas extraction.

Test Results

Composition of the natural gas used:

methane 84.8%, ethane 9.2%, propane 2.6%, butane 0.9%, carbon dioxide 1.6%, nitrogen 0.9%.

The comparative substance used was a commercially available gas hydrate inhibitor based on polyvinylpyrrolidone. The dosage in all tests was 5000 ppm based on the water phase.

Pyroglutamic ester from example T_(ind) (h) T_(agg) (h) Blank value 0 0 1 6.2 6.5 2 5.9 6.0 3 7.5 7.8 4 7.2 7.3 5 8.4 8.9 6 8.1 8.2 7 8.0 8.1 Comparative 3.5 3.6

As can be seen from the above test results, the inventive pyroglutamic esters are effective as kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors, and show a significant improvement over the prior art.

In order to test the action as agglomerate inhibitors, the test autoclave used above was initially charged with water and white spirit (20% of the volume in a ratio of 1:2) and, based on the water phase, 5000 ppm of the particular additive were added.

At an autoclave pressure of 50 bar and a stirrer speed of 500 rpm, the temperature was cooled from initially 20° C. to 4° C. within 3 hours, then the autoclave was stirred at 4° C. for 18 hours and warmed up again. The agglomeration time until the occurrence of gas hydrate agglomerates and the torque on the stirrer which occurred at the time, which is a measure of the agglomeration of the gas hydrates, were measured.

The comparative substance employed was a commercially available antiagglomerant (quaternary ammonium salt).

Pyroglutamic ester from example T_(agg) (h) M_(max) (Ncm) Blank value 0.1 15.9 1 4.5 1.4 2 3.8 1.0 3 5.7 2.3 Comparative 2.6 4.1

As can be seen from these examples, the torques measured are greatly reduced in comparison to the blank value in spite of gas hydrate formation. This suggests significant agglomerate-inhibiting action of the inventive products. In addition, the products, under the test conditions, also have significant action as kinetic inhibitors. All examples show significantly better performance than the commercially available antiagglomerant (comparative=state of the art).

The significantly improved biodegradability (to OECD 306) of the inventive compounds compared to the prior art (commercially available polyvinylpyrrolidone) is shown hereinafter.

Pyroglutamic ester Biodegradability from example 28 days (OECD 306) Polyvinylpyrrolidone 5 1 65 2 48 3 62 4 70 5 71 6 35 7 24 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for preventing the formation of gas hydrates in an aqueous phase, wherein the aqueous phase is in contact with a gaseous, liquid or solid organic phase comprising the step of adding a pyroglutamic ester in an amount of 0.01 to 2% be weight to the aqueous phase, wherein the pyroglutamic ester is prepared by esterifying at least one alcohol having from 1 to 100 hydroxyl groups with pyroglutamic acid, glutamic acid or a mixture thereof, with the proviso that the at least one alcohol comprises at most one ester group or at most one carboxylic acid group.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, isopentanol, 2-ethylhexanol, heptanol, octanol, decanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, diglycerol, triglycerol, tetraglycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, sorbitol, sorbitan, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and tripropylene glycol.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pyroglutamic ester is prepared by using L-glutamic acid in enantiomerically pure form.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pyroglutamic ester comprises glutamic esters.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one alcohol corresponds to the formula (1)

wherein R is an organic radical with any substitution comprising at most one ester group or at most one carboxylic acid group, and n is from 1 to
 100. 6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein R is an alkyl or polyalkylene radical having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms.
 7. The method as claimed in cliam 5, wherein n is from 1 to
 10. 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the pyroglutamic ester, at least 30% of all the OH groups present in the at least one alcohol have been esterified. 